IoT and Connected Cars is a subject dear to the hearts of our team of IoT experts who are focused on optimising connectivity on-land and on-sea. Some recent research about IoT from analyst firm AIMultiple Five Use Cases of IoT in Automotive in 2022 caught their eye.
AiMultiple says that IoT “possesses the potential to revolutionize the way people interact with their vehicles and opens new marketing opportunities for manufacturers to entice people to purchase cars again”. Its team writes that some of the use cases of IoT in automotive include:
· “Automotive maintenance system
The sensors embedded in different components of a car can collect data and share it via on-premise databases or in the cloud. This data is then processed either manually or via an algorithm that can analyze future outcomes of the component based on its performance. This feature can assist the driver in predictive maintainance.
· Self-driving system
Safer driving will be achieved by nearby vehicles’ positions being collected and shared with other drivers in the vicinity via Bluetooth or 5G signals. Tesla, itself, uses 8 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and a forward radar to read lane lines and identify nearby cars for autopilot driving. A comprehensive implementation of this technology in other cars in the market will lead to less dangerous roads.
· Vehicle security
External sensors and cameras convey the vehicle’s condition and status to the owner’s smartphone via vehicular telematics. Theft auto is reduced as a result of this: any forced entrance will trigger an alert and notify the owner via their smartphone. Or, because most automobile corners are equipped with sensors and cameras, any tiny mishap — a scratch, a dent, or an unintentional bump of someone’s leg — will be quickly recorded and displayed on the car’s screen. This will help to decrease unreported hit-and-runs and can also help with validating insurance claims.
· Fleet management
GPS tracking follows millions of trucks and shipping containers that are on the road. This is a benefit when companies are monitoring their supply chain distribution. In addition, cargo sensors are capable of monitoring the temperature of environment-sensitive cargo, such as fruits and vegetables. This helps reduce food spoilage.
· Software updates
Cars equipped with IoT technology, like smartphones, can receive software upgrades (see Figure 3). Improved locking mechanisms, stronger cyber security, a better in-car entertainment experience, navigation, and more features might all be included in these improvements.”
Automotive IoT’s challenges
AiMultiple identifies a number of challenges for the continued rollout of IoT in the automotive sector including:
“Connectivity: You have to use the best communication protocols for your network to get the most out of it.”
Telecom26, IoT Connectivity and Smart Cars
At Telecom26 we are making great progress in the automotive sector with our IoT Connectivity solutions.
Last year, we announced that we had been chosen as the new global mobile connectivity provider for the in-car fleet management systems of GlobalmatiX, a rising star in the telematics industry, whose customers include the world’s best known rental car brands including the Enterprise, Alamo and National brands.
This was the first customer win for our new Telematics eSIM service; Telecom26 eSIM profiles will be installed into all existing and future GlobalmatiX in-car boxes providing always-on connectivity with data being transmitted to GlobalmatiX’s cloud management system.
Our eSIMs connect to our Global Roaming Service which provides seamless coverage across 1100 cellular networks from over 625 mobile operators in more than 220 countries.
So now GlobalmatiX can monitor and communicate with vehicles wherever they are in the world.
IoT Connectivity, M2M and the automotive industry
As part of our series of papers on IoT Connectivity we have written about this paper about “Automotive IoT Use Cases - Solving connectivity challenges for connected vehicles”. If you’d like a copy, you can download from the bottom of this page or please contact us.
The automotive industry is already a huge consumer of IoT Connectivity and M2M applications including:
- Telematics for rental and leasing using IoT Connectivity
Rental companies need to be able to track the location of the vehicles they lease, so that they can optimise service performance and ensure that drivers adhere to any agreed plans. Other benefits include reporting from on-board sensors, or remote control to protect against any criminal activities.
- Insurance tracking using IoT Connectivity
Insurance for drivers and vehicles has incorporated data from multiple sources in recent years, in order to deliver tailored plans and policies. Data points include speed, location and more – all of which depends on real-time or periodic transfer from vehicle to cloud servers, where it can be processed and correlated with individual policies.
- Carsharing and e-Scooters using IoT Connectivity
These depend entirely on a user being able to find a vehicle in their vicinity, or to be guided towards one. As such, it’s essential to be able to identify the location of vehicles accurately and in real-time.
- EV charging infrastructure using IoT Connectivity
One of the main challenges associated with the transition to electric vehicles is the delivery and management of national and international EV charging infrastructure. As these networks roll out, this infrastructure will be highly distributed with uneven density, creating a complex management problem. And, like today’s fuel station networks, users will expect them to work, 100% of the time.
- Autonomous vehicles using IoT Connectivity
Autonomous vehicles remain some way off, however. Their operation and control will depend on super-fast, low latency communications, backed by a distributed edge processing fabric to manage the data they generate – and to enable instant decisions to be taken.
- In-vehicle entertainment using IoT Connectivity
In-vehicle entertainment already benefits from Bluetooth connectivity from personal devices to the in-car system. Increasingly, though, content and experiences will be delivered centrally to the car.
- Emergency assistance using IoT Connectivity
Many vehicles are already equipped with systems that provide immediate connectivity to emergency services – and all of these are enabled by SIM connectivity. They enable position and other data to be shared, while opening voice channels for Person-to-Person communication.
- The Need For Connectivity using IoT Connectivity
Regardless of how many IoT and M2M apps vehicles have, the common denominator is that they all need always-on connectivity - and the ability to easily roam onto any network, domestic and international for when vehicles cross borders.
While today much of this connectivity is enabled by traditional SIMs, the future is eSIMs and IoT Connectivity – enabling connection and service profiles to be delivered over the air and avoiding the need to change physical components of the in-vehicle communications system.
And, not just any old eSIM. The Telecom26 eSIM has been developed to meet the IoT Connectivity needs of a variety of industries including the automotive.
Telecom26 -
One of the reasons our eSIMs top the bill is because they connect to our Global Roaming Service as well as our IoT Connectivity Service. But that’s not all as our customer GlobalmatiX can testify with the company benefiting from many new features not available from other operators including:
- Full control over its connectivity which enables it to offer different packages to its customers. For example, a real-time service which provides immediate data over the fastest networks is available as well as a package for which Telecom26 can provide optimised least cost roaming and routing.
- Seamless coverage across 1100 cellular networks from over 620 mobile operators in more than 220 countries - and ability to customize connectivity according to the budgets
- Full control and management of its eSIMs through a customized service portal
- Maximum security through the use of Virtual Private Networks
Telecom26 provides a complete, managed IoT Connectivity service ideal for global and local operators of automotive fleet management solutions.
For more information about our Telecom26 can help improve efficiencies within your fleet of scooters, cars, vans, lorries, ferries and ships using our IoT Connectivity, please contact us.
